KBB

It's playing the system to get round ffp or whatever it is in the prem and its being done openly and in plain sight.
Academy prospects being used as pawns as ownership groups play chess to avoid sanctions and ao that can sign more big money internationals.
Imagine some of these young lads will then be loaned out, again making the club money for their balance sheets.
Football is not the game it was. Sad.

I will say with regards to scouting and my experience is that some scouts have "biased eyes" ie. They will expect or want a player to be good based on their feelings and instincts. Ai or analysis software doesn't have this bias. It will spit out data with no prejudice or bias. The reports are "clean" so to speak and then the hands on scouting can begin based on desired qualities.
This reminds me of the James bond, new Q quote along the lines of "I can cause more damage on my laptop before my first coffee then you can do in 10 years in the field mr bond"
Scouting, player recruitment and identification has changed and is still evolving. We are moving with the times and looking at new ways. I'm fully behind any new ideas and find it exciting.

I will say with regards to scouting and my experience is that some scouts have "biased eyes" ie. They will expect or want a player to be good based on their feelings and instincts. Ai or analysis software doesn't have this bias. It will spit out data with no prejudice or bias. The reports are "clean" so to speak and then the hands on scouting can begin based on desired qualities.
This reminds me of the James bond, new Q quote along the lines of "I can cause more damage on my laptop before my first coffee then you can do in 10 years in the field mr bond"
Scouting, player recruitment and identification has changed and is still evolving. We are moving with the times and looking at new ways. I'm fully behind any new ideas and find it exciting.

It's playing the system to get round ffp or whatever it is in the prem and its being done openly and in plain sight.
Academy prospects being used as pawns as ownership groups play chess to avoid sanctions and ao that can sign more big money internationals.
Imagine some of these young lads will then be loaned out, again making the club money for their balance sheets.
Football is not the game it was. Sad.

It's playing the system to get round ffp or whatever it is in the prem and its being done openly and in plain sight.
Academy prospects being used as pawns as ownership groups play chess to avoid sanctions and ao that can sign more big money internationals.
Imagine some of these young lads will then be loaned out, again making the club money for their balance sheets.
Football is not the game it was. Sad.

I will say with regards to scouting and my experience is that some scouts have "biased eyes" ie. They will expect or want a player to be good based on their feelings and instincts. Ai or analysis software doesn't have this bias. It will spit out data with no prejudice or bias. The reports are "clean" so to speak and then the hands on scouting can begin based on desired qualities.
This reminds me of the James bond, new Q quote along the lines of "I can cause more damage on my laptop before my first coffee then you can do in 10 years in the field mr bond"
Scouting, player recruitment and identification has changed and is still evolving. We are moving with the times and looking at new ways. I'm fully behind any new ideas and find it exciting.

I will say with regards to scouting and my experience is that some scouts have "biased eyes" ie. They will expect or want a player to be good based on their feelings and instincts. Ai or analysis software doesn't have this bias. It will spit out data with no prejudice or bias. The reports are "clean" so to speak and then the hands on scouting can begin based on desired qualities.
This reminds me of the James bond, new Q quote along the lines of "I can cause more damage on my laptop before my first coffee then you can do in 10 years in the field mr bond"
Scouting, player recruitment and identification has changed and is still evolving. We are moving with the times and looking at new ways. I'm fully behind any new ideas and find it exciting.

I'm by no means an expert on this but am happy to write about what I've learned from reading this book so far (started it yesterday and only 1/4 of the way through) as well as a few others on analytics in football. You might regret you asked. Brace yourself for an essay... 😁
I do wonder about the influence of David Clowes on the new appointments, in that perhaps he has used statistical analysis already, thinking back to the pivotal moment in last season of Stevenage away. He kept calm and didn't sack PW despite the discontent among the fan base. Maybe this was more based on stats than just sticking with his man for sentimental reasons? By then we had already 'lost' five points to Bolton and Portsmouth due to refereeing decisions so the table position at the time did lie (a theme in the book), and there were dubious decisions in the Stevenage game where we also conceded two goals directly from free kicks that didn't indicate an overall malaise.
This links into two other examples in the book with regard to managers.
When Klopp left Dortmund to join Liverpool amateur analysts at the time had shown that his last 'poor' season at Dortmund was actually due to bad luck with regard to results of matches versus his team's stats. If this was realised at the time then who knows he might never have joined Liverpool.
With Alan Pardew at Newcastle in 11/12 his team finished 5th in the PL but based on the stats such as goal difference, distribution of goals and net shots on target, they should have finished lower. He was given an 8 year deal on the basis of the 'lucky' season, thinking he'd cracked it, but next season they finished 16th and he didn't last much longer. However the stats for both seasons were actually remarkably similar so he got a higher placing than expected in 'lucky' season 1 but lower in 'unlucky' season 2. If analytics had been used then more rational decisions concerning his contract might have been made.
Another interesting aspect of this is outcome bias, ie the perceived wisdom after the event to make the narrative fit the outcome rather than being a cool analysis of the facts. So season 1 Pardew is praised for attractive play and courage to play youngsters, in season 2 criticised for having a too gung-ho style of play and lack of experience in the team. 
As an aside and potential use of analytics, the current situation of Harry Kane and his playing for England in the Euros could be given. Different opinions from the pundits are he's too old, doesn't press and plays too deep, versus well he scored the goal against Denmark so needs to play. I would think that rather than making gut decisions on his selection then data could be analysed to make one that is more informed, considering variables such as, how many goals against Denmark 'should' England be scoring, does HK in the team affect this by actually reducing the total number of goals scored even allowing for him netting one. Analysis of different games in tournaments, friendlies, high and lower ranked teams, could be made to give some sort of an answer to this.
This sort of information does exist, in that the author mentions Matthew Benham at Brentford and Tony Bloom at Brighton, who both made fortunes from particular forms of gambling on football, enough to enable them to each buy their supported-since-childhood clubs and during their ownership get them promoted to the PL. They didn't do this by making lucky punts on games but adopted large scale analysis using teams of workers, knowing they only had to calculate the outcome of matches more than 50% of the time to make money. A factor included in this was the likely outcome if a particular player was in or out of the team, similar to the HK situation, so hard stats can be used rather than just guesswork.
The book discusses player ratings made by watching a game versus via stats, linked into the cognitive biases involved in scouting and the risks of this. Also, I like mention of the biases of narrative, such as Pep being a genius with regard to tactics and personnel, whereas he took over winning teams that have continued to win post him leaving, and has only coached the most or second most expensive teams in each league. 
There's mention of football being influenced by luck and how good and bad luck in games affects the outcome, but how the game hesitates to recognise this. I had the three Euros games on yesterday and having read this my ears pricked up with the number of times pundits said the word luck without even thinking about it and how this tied into the book.
Analysis of games using xG is discussed, and how this leads into 'the table does lie', both with examples.
It's an evolving relatively new area, but with the ability to analyse aspects such as throw ins, crossing the ball as a goal scoring method, corner kicks, as well as a myriad of other in game possibilities, then a more informed decision on managers, players and tactics can be utilised. That is apart from being used to identify undiscovered gems when signing players as per Moneyball.
An example that I've often scratched my head at, that I assume analytics could be used to give information on, is a free kick towards the end of a game we are chasing from behind. It seems an inordinate length of time is spent with the lining up the wall, discussions between the players as to who is going to take it with bluffing techniques thrown in, jostling in the box with the ref then delaying play to speak to the players concerned, only for the free kick to be blasted into the wall or row Z. With the clock ticking down would it be better to try a different routine with the ball passed short and played on from there. I've seen some examples in perhaps more innovative women's football. Analytics could give an answer as to the success of free kicks taken in particular areas with the personnel at hand, versus time taken to take them and probability of scoring from attacking open play in similar positions.
One reason I really like this move by the club is that we know it will be very hard to gain promotion from the Championship (if that is indeed the aim but then that's another philosophical debate...) given the unlikely-to-be-resolved-anytime-soon influence of parachute payments given to clubs relegated from the PL so they can bounce back up. Trying to gain an advantage using analytics hasn't at present been outlawed by the EFL, so is a smart way to try and progress rather than financial manipulation given the hazards we know that involves.
I'm sure DC in his business dealings doesn't just go with his gut but uses feasibility studies and similar to base decisions on, and I see the use of analytics at Derby being not dissimilar to this. PW as well is a shrewd cookie, and beneath the bobble hat and jokey exterior he's pleased to use this option for the next step of Derby in the Championship. 
 
 

Total and utter drivel from you.

Total and utter drivel from you.

Total and utter drivel from you.

Total and utter drivel from you.

Total and utter drivel from you.

Tell them to me on pm and I will then go on x and create an account called something like "efl insider", "championship agent", or Barry the ram and leak them all.

Ah the matchday threads. I always use them to base my opinion on. From the crying over the starting 11, to the prediction of another incoming defeat, to the in play moaning we aren't winning, to the disappearing acts when we win. I love them.

Do people want me to make up some rumours to help ease any pain? They can be plausible or ludicrous based on preference
Eg. Derby are poised to swoop for che Adams on a 3 year deal.
I will let you decide which category thst one falls into.

I will stop now before nixon starts a lawsuit as he has the market for made up rumours patented. However before I go I've just been told an unnamed player, from an unnamed club, who plays in an unnamed position, has signed and will be announced on an unnamed date. Sorry I cant be more specific, my source doesn't want to be revealed as a leak. Keep it under your hats though.

I will stop now before nixon starts a lawsuit as he has the market for made up rumours patented. However before I go I've just been told an unnamed player, from an unnamed club, who plays in an unnamed position, has signed and will be announced on an unnamed date. Sorry I cant be more specific, my source doesn't want to be revealed as a leak. Keep it under your hats though.

I will stop now before nixon starts a lawsuit as he has the market for made up rumours patented. However before I go I've just been told an unnamed player, from an unnamed club, who plays in an unnamed position, has signed and will be announced on an unnamed date. Sorry I cant be more specific, my source doesn't want to be revealed as a leak. Keep it under your hats though.

We've shown daryl dike round the training ground. What more do you want?
Sorry I will stop now.
Agree. No panic from me. Hardly any moves at the level we might be looking at. Plenty of time. Keep your powder dry folks.

I will stop now before nixon starts a lawsuit as he has the market for made up rumours patented. However before I go I've just been told an unnamed player, from an unnamed club, who plays in an unnamed position, has signed and will be announced on an unnamed date. Sorry I cant be more specific, my source doesn't want to be revealed as a leak. Keep it under your hats though.

When are we swooping KBB 😉

Next 48 hours. Daryl Dike poised to end his injury nightmare at wba by signing on a season long loan. Guy at training ground said he was shown round yesterday.
(All of the above may be a work of fiction)

Ah the matchday threads. I always use them to base my opinion on. From the crying over the starting 11, to the prediction of another incoming defeat, to the in play moaning we aren't winning, to the disappearing acts when we win. I love them.

Ah the matchday threads. I always use them to base my opinion on. From the crying over the starting 11, to the prediction of another incoming defeat, to the in play moaning we aren't winning, to the disappearing acts when we win. I love them.